Illuminating device



Aug.v 6, 1.946.. Y l. B. PoLEvrrzKY 2,405,518

n l ILLUMINATING DEVICE Filed Nov. 14, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 www Aug 61946- l. B. POLEVITZKY 2,405,58

ILLUMINATING DEVICE -Filed Nov. 14, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheerl 2 LWQMWPatented Aug. 6, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE ILLUlt/mlATlN G DEVICEIgor B. Polevitzky, Miami, Fla.

Application November 14, 1945, Serial No. 628,516

6 Claims. l

The present invention relates generally to illuminating devices of thegaseous discharge type. The invention may be applied to the severaltypes of discharge lamps which employ any gas or vapor which willsup-port an electric discharge and serve as a source of illumination,such as mercury vapor, neon or argon or other gases.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a lamp of thistype, in which illumination is obtained from a relatively large area. Inthe present invention, therefore, the body of illuminating gas isdisposed over a relatively large area, being confined substantiallybetween a pair of confining disks. For the purpose of providingrelatively narrow discharge paths between the electrodes employed in thespace, the space is partitioned in such a manner that it forms one ormore labyrinthine passages. In the present invention, therefore, thedischarge electrodes are disposed at the ends of the labyrinthinepassages and the latter serve as the path for the illuminatingdischarge.

Another aim of the present invention is to provide a plurality of suchlabyrinthine passages in the relatively :fiat space, these severalpassages forming several paths, which cooperate to yield. a large areasource of illumination.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an illuminatingdevice of the type described in which the several discharge paths areinter-leaved or inter-related in a manner as to give the effect of asingle source of illumination.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide anilluminating device of the type described and in which the current insome of the passages is caused to lag or lead with reference to thecurrent in other passages, thereby substantially eliminating any flickereffect and rendering the illumination substantially uniform.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a fluorescent lampin which the uorescent material is activated by a gaseous dischargethrough one or more sinuous or labyrinthine passages, thereby providingan area source of illumination with the entire area emitting lightuniformly.

Other objects and` advantages of the present invention will beunderstood by persons skilled in the art by reference to theaccompanying drawings and the following specification and descriptionthereof; it being understood that these are illustrative of the presentinvention and that variations thereof will be apparent to personsskilled in the art.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side View of a lamp embodying the present invention, aportion of the illuminating unit being broken away to provide a sideview of the partitions;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the illuminating space;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the illuminating chamber;

Fig. 4 is a face view of a modification which provides two dischargepaths;

Fig. 5 is another modifications which provides four discharge paths; and

Fig. 6 is a schematic illustration of the wiring diagram.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the present illuminatingdevice comprises a standard screw base It, a housing I I which containsthe auxiliary equipment and the illuminating unit I2. The illuminatingunit I2 comprises a cup-shaped receptacle I3 having an outward ange I G.This cup-shaped element I3 may be of any suitable material such as glassmolded ceramic or any suitable plastic or stamped metal or the like. Thespace within the cup-shaped container I3 is in the form shown in Fig. 2partitioned into a, single labyrinthine passage I5 by means of thesingle spiral partition I6, which extends from the center of the chamberto its side Wall. The partition I6 like the container I3 may be made ofany suitable material, and preferably of the same material as thecontainer.

The partition I6 is lodged directly against the bottom I'I of thecontainer I3 and has its inner end I8 shaped in the form of asemi-circle as shown in Fig. 2. The other end of the spiral partition iscurved as shown at I9 and abuts against the side wall of the containerI3.

The electrode filaments 20 and 2l are mounted as shown at the ends ofthe labyrinthine passage I5; the electrode 20 being disposed as shownnear the curved end I9 of the partition IB, and the electrode 2| beingdisposed as shown across the curved portion I8 of the wall I6. Theelectrode filaments may be disposed in a more or less vertical positionas shown in Fig. 3.

The cover glass 22 is disposed over the face of the chamber I 3 and issealed by any suitable means to the ange I4 thus providing ahermetically sealed space Within the chamber. The partition Itpreferably extends flush with the outer face of the flange It andpreferably touches the inner face of the glass cover 22.

The inner face of the container I3, the inner face of the glass platecover 22, as well as the sides of the partition I6 are coated with anysuitable fluorescent material. In the process of tween opposingelectrodes serving as a source of illumination.

3. An illuminating device comprising a metal housing, having asubstantially at bottom wall and a substantially flat transparent coverplate parallel to the bottom wall, a iiuorescent coating on the innerface of said cover plate, convolute partitions in said housing, dividingthe same into a plurality of spiral passages, all of substantially thesame length, each extending from substantially the center to theperiphery' of the housing and separated from each other by a single Wallextending from the bottom wall to the cover plate, said housing andpartitions being coated by an insulating enamel, thermionic electrodesmounted in the housing at each end of said passages, leadins for theelectrodes, and a suitable gas lling said housing and providing adischarge path between opposing electrodes serving as a source ofillumination.

4. An illuminating device comprising a sealed flat housing, having asubstantially at bottom Wall and a substantial1y-at transparent coverplate parallel to the bottom wall, a fluorescent coating on the innerface of said'cover plate, convolute partitions in said housing dividingthe same into a plurality of spiral passages, all of subm stantially thesame length, each extending from substantially the center to theperiphery of the housing and separated vfrom each other by a single Wallextending from the bottom wall to the cover plate and fixedly attachedto the housing only to maintain the same rigidly within the housingwithout sealing the passages from each other, thermionic electrodesmounted in the housing at each end of said passages, lead-ins for theelectrodes, and a suitable gas lling said housing and providing adischarge path between opposing electrodes serving as a source ofillumination.

5. An illuminating device comprising a metal housing, having asubstantially flat bottom wall and a substantially at transparent coverplate, a convolute metal partition in said housing providing a spiralpassage therein extending from substantially the center to the peripheryof the housing, the partition extending from the bottom wall to thecover plate, said housing and partition .being coated by an insulatingenamel, thermionic electrodes mounted in the housing ateach end of saidpassage, lead-ins for the electrodes, and a suitable gas lling saidhousing and providing a discharge path therein serving as a source ofillumination.

6. An illuminating device comprising a metal housing, having asubstantially flat bottom wall and a substantially flat transparentcover plate, a convolute metal partition in said housing pro viding aspiral passage therein extending from substantially the center to theperiphery of the housing, the partition extending from the bottom wallto the cover plate, said housing and partition being coated by afluorescent insulating enamel, thermionic electrodes mounted in thehousing at each end of said passage, lead-ins for the electrodes, and asuitable gas lling said housing and providing a discharge path thereinserving as a source of illumination.

IGOR. B. POLEVITZKY.

